"Do Whatever He Tells You" John 2: 1-12; John 9: 13-33

We continue through our Lenten study of John:  The Gospel of Light and Life, by Adam Hamilton. This week, we reflect on the "miraculous signs" that Jesus does.  Hamilton notes that these acts are not called miracles, but miraculous signs.  This builds on the theme introduced last week that what happens in John is more than the event itself, but includes what the event reveals about God.

The two particular events we focus on this week are the turning of water into wine by Jesus as the wedding at Cana and the healing of the blind beggar.  These are two of the seven miraculous signs that Jesus does in Chapters 2-12 of the Gospel of John (the healing of the blind beggar takes up all of Chapter 9).

Either of these two stories could be a whole sermon, or maybe even a sermon series!  Covering both in one sermon will be a challenge.

Water into wine:  my favorite part of this sign is the interplay between Jesus and his mother.  Hamilton does not spend much time on it, but I find it fascinating that Jesus does not really want to do anything, but he does so at his mother's insistence.  And he does so with style, producing the best wine of the night.  Interesting that Jesus announces himself with reluctance, and only at the behest of this mother.  I also am interested in his mother's instructions to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."  Trust that Jesus will do something, but also a simple instruction.  it has me wondering about discipleship being simply "do what he tells you!"

Hamilton points out that John notes the jars were made of stone and were used for Jewish purification.  He suggests this proves that the point is not turning water into wine, but "how life in Christ is richer and more joyful than the ritualistic religion of first-century Judaism" (Hamilton, 35)

Hamilton also notes that in the Old Testament wine "is often used as a metaphor or a sign of blessings and goodness and joy," so the use of wine in this story points out what life in Christ will be like (Hamilton, 36).

As we reflect on the story of the healing of the blind beggar, note that the story begins with the statement that the man is not blind because of his sinfulness or the sinfulness of his parents.  This debunks the prevalent idea in that time that illness or handicaps were the result of someone's sins.  Perhaps part of what it means to have new life in Christ is to move beyond that negative understanding of God and to grow inot the life-giving understanding of God.

I am struck by how the blind beggar does not make things too complicated.  He does what Jesus tells him to do, and he regains his sight.  The simplicity of that response feels similar to the water into wine miracle at the wedding in Cana.

Hamilton sees the blind beggar as representing each of us who are born blind beggars and need to know the new life Christ offers us (42).  He also points out the contrast between the blind beggar who listened to Jesus and found healing and the religious authorities who argue about who Jesus is and in doing so miss the opportunity for new life in Christ (43).  Hamilton also makes not of the repeated use of the water image in the Gospel of John (42).

What seems interesting to you from these stories?